Australia: Dozens of flights cancelled as Jetstar suffers staffing crunch due to COVID isolation

At least 80 domestic flights have been cancelled in Australia on Christmas Eve as COVID-19 isolation requirements put a strain on the country’s airline staff. A Sydney Airport spokesman told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age there were 80 domestic cancellations on Friday across all airlines, from more than 500 flights. An airline staff member who did not wish to be identified told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that departure boards at Melbourne and Brisbane airports were earlier on Friday displaying previously scheduled services that had been changed in the lead-up to Friday, creating a sea of red and making it look like there were more cancellations than there actually were. These departure boards have subsequently been updated to accurately reflect airline operations, the staff member said. Comment is being sought from Melbourne Airport. A Jetstar spokesperson said its cancellations and scheduling adjustments were due to staff COVID-19 isolation requirements. “Unfortunately like many people in Sydney and Melbourne, a large number of our frontline team are being required to test and isolate as close contacts given the increasing number of cases in the general community, and as a result we have had to make some late adjustments to our schedule,” the Jetstar spokesperson said.<br/>